Paradise City.

Chapter 58: Changes.

Chapter 58: Changes.

1999

¬Narrator¬

Crystal blues reflected upwards, beaming brightly up at the tall man with glee and hope. A wide smile fell across the four year olds’ face, showing the few teeth that were missing. She practically bounced with anticipation in the middle of the tour bus. Hands tightly cupped together, white knuckling herself. Her father stared down at the young girl with protectiveness that he felt very often. He arched an eye brow at the small girl when she realized that the cute smiling pretty please daddy, can I trick wasn’t working and she instantly went into pathetic puppy-dog mode, sticking out her bottom lip and batting her eye lashes at him with sad eyes. The little girl has never seen snow before, never once, only the fake ones they’d see during the Christmas holidays and here they are in the Northern states where it was snowing heavily. The roads were closed so they couldn’t go anywhere for a couple of days so might as well have some fun.

Jimmy chuckled and sighed with a small smile on his lips. He knew she wouldn’t let this go if he didn’t let her go play outside and she’d be in a terrible mood for the rest of the day as well, he certainly didn’t want that.

“Okay.” He gave in, making the four year old squeal with joy and jump up and down until she took him in a tight embrace. Jimmy smiled as he felt all warm and fuzzy inside. Peasnie was only going to be with him for another couple of days before she goes back to California and goes back to school. Peasnie quickly went and put on her hiking boots with her jacket that Jimmy had to buy her because one of the venues was absolutely freezing inside. It was a black leather jacket with fake fur lining the inside. She slipped on her bright orange mittens and one of the hats she grabbed out of the merch box. She was ready before Jimmy even had his shoes tied. Peasnie examined her father’s outfit and shook her head.

“Daddy, you’re gonna get sick.” Peasnie said worriedly looking at her father. He wore a thick hoodie, a hat and shoes that had holes in them. She knew he was going to get sick and he knew if he got sick she’d blame herself. Jimmy sighed and swung on his leather jacket over top his hoodie and slipped on a pair of gloves. Jimmy opened the door to the tour bus and Peasnie jumped out right away. She was overly excited even planting her feet in the three inches of snow. She wore a wide smile as she jumped around and kicked the snow. She was leaving her foot prints in the snow, just like if she were to walk through the house with wet shoes, she’d leave foot prints.

Peasnie danced around and let the snow fall down onto her, tangling in her hair. Jimmy smiled and watched as his overactive four year old daughter prance around like this morning she was born and tonight she was going to die. She enjoyed life even after the horrible things she’s seen. Peasnie grinned a devilish grin, kneeling down in the snow with her back to her dad. Jimmy arched an eye brow curiously; he lifted himself from the side of the tour bus so he was no longer leaning against it. Peasnie giggled evilly.

“Peasnie?” Jimmy sang her name lightly. He stepped forward, his weight made a noticeable crunch in the snow. Peasnie spun around and threw the small ball of soft snow at her dad, getting him in the middle of the stomach. He grunted as she giggled hysterically. A wide grin fell across his face as he realized what had happened. He squatted down and gathered up a small ball of the soft snow as Peasnie ran around, trying to get away from him. Jimmy smirked devilishly, his gaze was past Peasnie. She saw that and turned around to see her dad’s real targets. She skipped over to him and helped him make a few balls of snow before they dashed behind a mailbox. Peasnie giggled uncontrollably as the footsteps got closer and the talking got louder.

“Ready?” Jimmy whispered as he wound his arm back, in the palm of his hand was a snow ball. Peasnie brought her arm back, getting ready to throw.

“Aim.” He added lowly. Peasnie’s smile got larger and larger. Their hearts began to beat faster as the small group of young men appeared from the other side of the mailbox.

“Fire!” Jimmy yelled. They both released hell upon the four men; they jumped in surprise before realizing this was an ambush. Not long their ambush had turned into a full blown snow ball fight. The side of the bus looked like a teenager with a bad case of acne. But Peasnie had so much fun, building a snow fort out of the side of a snow bank on the safe side of the parking lot where she couldn’t fall onto the road. She felt a tad bit left out when her dad and Uncles ran out onto the empty roads. She knew she wasn’t allowed to go onto the road so she stayed in her place until they came back. The five men felt a little bit sad that they left her behind a little bit. So they made their way back to the bus where they found Peasnie attempting to make a snowman. Peasnie was frustrated by the fact that the snow wasn’t sticky enough to stick together for a snowman but she knew that maybe if she spit on the snow, it’ll freeze and stick together. Jimmy went into the bus and got some stuff to decorate the small snowman at the side of the road. The guys helped Peasnie assemble the frozen man with a bottle of water before they put a face to the man. They used shoe laces for a smile, Oreos for eyes and put a merch cap on top.

Peasnie giggled and examined her first snowman she’s ever made and she made it with her father. Peasnie lied down in the snow pile of untouched snow, beaming up at the light grey sky that was raining frozen tears. Jimmy collapsed next to his daughter in the snow with a heavy sigh; the guys were away to the corner shop to buy some hot chocolate. Peasnie’s already pale face was even paler, her nose was ruby red and her cheeks were blushed. Her blue eyes seemed grey in the light. Her fingers and toes were numb and her clothes were more water than fabric. Once the guys got back they retreated into the bus and made some hot chocolate.

“How’d you like your first snow day, kiddo?” Jimmy asked gleefully, looking up at Peasnie with a smile. Peasnie smiled widely and looked over at her dad. Peasnie sipped the hot chocolate that her father put marsh mellows in. She pulled the drink away with a hot chocolate mustache.

“Amazing.” Peasnie replied making her father laugh. These were simpler times when the biggest drama was the burnt tongue Brian got from drinking his too soon.